Device for the temporary wiring, especially emergency wiring, or communication networks

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 2 ) for the temporary wiring, especially emergency wiring, of communication net-works, comprising a base ( 4 ) that has a reel-up device ( 6 ) for a cable ( 10 ) for linking the device ( 2 ) with a central unit ( 12 ). Connecting means ( 8 ) for connecting a plurality of data processing devices ( 14 ) and distributing means linked with the connecting means ( 8 ) are provided on the base ( 4 ) for producing a communication link between the central unit ( 12 ) and the data processing devices ( 14 ). The inventive device ( 2 ) allows for the fast and simple initiation of a communication network.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for the temporary wiring,especially emergency wiring, of communication networks.

[0002] Communication networks, for example data processing networks,are, in many enterprises, an important component of the operatingorganization, with a smooth progress of the operational success beingconsiderably dependent thereupon. If the data processing network failsor is interrupted, for the department that is affected, or under certaincircumstances even for the entire enterprise, this means a considerableadverse effect upon the operational progress and even a completeshutdown of work in the department or enterprise that is affected. Sincethe operational sequences in a modern enterprise are effected rapidlyand in an interactive manner, even a brief interruption of the dataprocessing network is a drawback upon the progress of the enterprise andresults in high costs.

[0003] If the entire data processing network is interrupted, for exampleif a plug connection becomes loose or a location of the cabling of thenetwork is damaged, it is necessary to find and eliminate the cause forthe interruption as rapidly as possible in order to again make the dataprocess network ready for operation. In practice this often turns out tobe difficult and time consuming, since technicians are necessary toeliminate the network interruption. Such technicians must find the causefor the interruption, eliminate it, and subsequently again place thedata processing network into operation. This results in high costs.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a device that makesit possible to rapidly and economically place the communication networkinto operation in a straightforward manner.

[0005] This object is realized by the teaching provided in claim 1.

[0006] The invention is based on the concept of rapidly establishing atemporary wiring in a communication network between a central unit anddata processing units that are in a data processing connection with thecentral unit.

[0007] Pursuant to the invention, for the temporary wiring ofcommunication networks, the device is provided with a base that has awinding device for a data transmission line for the connection of thedevice to a central unit, whereby disposed on the base are connectingmeans for connecting a plurality of data processing units to the device,and distribution means connected with the connecting means forestablishing data processing connections between the central unit andthe data processing units.

[0008] In this way, the communication network, for example after aninterruption caused by a failure in the wiring, can in a straightforwardmanner be rapidly and economically again be brought into an operationalstate without technicians being required for this purpose. For example,if a data processing network is interrupted, it is merely necessary toremove a plug of the connecting line connected into the central unit,which connecting line serves for the data processing units connected tothe central unit, and to plug the plug of the line in at this locationfor connecting the inventive device to the central unit. Subsequently,the line is unwound from the winding device of the device, and thedevice is brought to the data processing units that are to be connectedto the central unit. These units are then connected to the device viathe connecting means that are provided on the inventive device.Thereafter, the data processing network can again be placed intooperation.

[0009] The inventive device thus also puts inexperienced personnel in aposition to rapidly and without problems place a communication networkback into operation, especially after an interruption caused by afailure in the wiring.

[0010] If the inventive device is, for example, a device for emergencywiring, the inventive device furthermore offers the advantage thattechnicians can search for and eliminate the cause of the networkfailure in peace and with all necessary care during the time that thenetwork operation is temporarily ensured by the inventive device.Furthermore, the inventive device offers the advantage that for timesthat experience has shown it is difficult to consult with techniciansfor eliminating a network interruption, for example during a nightshift, no particular organizational precautions have to be met, sinceduring an interruption the communication network can again be broughtinto operation with the aid of the inventive device even byinexperienced personnel.

[0011] After the cause for the network interruption is eliminated bytechnicians, the connection between the central unit and the dataprocessing unit connected thereto, which connection was temporarilyestablished by the inventive device, can again be interrupted in orderto reassume normal network operation. Subsequently, the inventive devicecan again be stowed in a space-saving manner, since pursuant to theinvention it can be very compactly designed. However, size, shape andmaterial of the inventive device can, in principle, be selected over awide range.

[0012] The signals exchanged between the central unit and the dataprocessing units can be electrical, optical or other signals. The linesused in the communication network can correspondingly be lines suitablefor the transmission of electrical, optical or other signals.

[0013] In principle, the distribution means can be designed in anysuitable manner. During operation of the inventive device, thedistribution means automatically establish data transmission connectionsbetween the central unit and the data processing unit or between thedata processing units themselves, so that the data processing unitsexchange data with the central unit or with one another. Thedistribution means expediently have switch means.

[0014] It is furthermore expedient that the distribution means have anactive network component. Such network components operate actively andare suitable to automatically rapidly and at high data transmissionrates establish data transmission connections between the central unitand the data processingis units, or between the data processing unitsthemselves, as is known in general to one skilled in the art.

[0015] It is particularly expedient for the active network component tobe a switch, a hub, a router or the like. Such active network componentsare available as economical standard components having a highefficiency.

[0016] Pursuant to a further development of the inventive teaching, thedistribution means be provided with amplification means for amplifyingsignals exchanged between the central unit and the data processingunits.

[0017] Pursuant to another advantageous further development of theinventive teaching, the line for connecting the device with the centralunit is fixedly connected with the base of the device, since in this wayan undesired detachment of the line from the base is avoided duringunwinding of the line.

[0018] Pursuant to a further advantageous further development of theinventive teaching, the connecting means are provided with plugconnections for the connection of the data processing units. In thisway, a simple and rapid connection of the data processing units to thedevice is made possible. In this way, the unit plugs provided on thedata processing units can also be utilized.

[0019] Pursuant to an extremely advantageous further development of theinventive teaching, the base is embodied in the manner of a cable drum,and thus forms the winding device. With this embodiment, the inventivedevice can be made particularly compact, whereby at the same time astraightforward and nonproblematic winding and unwinding of the line forthe connection with the central unit is made possible.

[0020] In principle, the distribution means can be disposed in anysuitable manner on the base of the device, for example can be fixedly ordetachably connected therewith. However, the distribution means areexpediently integrated into the base of the device. This has theadvantage that the device is even more compact and the distributionmeans cannot become lost.

[0021] The connecting means can also be disposed in any suitable manneron the base, for example can be fixedly or detachably connectedtherewith. However, the connecting means are expediently integrated intothe base of the device.

[0022] Pursuant to another further development of the inventiveteaching, a power supply unit for the distribution means is disposed onthe base. This ensures that a suitable power supply unit is alwaysavailable for the distribution means.

[0023] With the aforementioned embodiment, the power supply unit for thedistribution means can in principle be disposed in any desired manner onthe base. The power supply unit is expediently integrated into the basein order to make the device even more compact.

[0024] The invention will be explained subsequently with the aid of theaccompanying drawing, in the single figure of which is illustrated oneembodiment of the invention.

[0025] In the drawing, one embodiment of an inventive device for thetemporary wiring of data processing networks is shown in a greatlyschematic illustration in the operating condition.

[0026] The drawing shows a device 2 for the emergency wiring having abase 4, which is provided with a wiring device 6, and having connectingmeans 8 and distribution means that are not illustrated in the drawing.In this embodiment, the distribution means include a switch that isintegrated into the base 4 of the device 2 and that is connected to anon-illustrated source of power via a voltage supply unit that isintegrated into the base 4 and that is also not illustrated in thedrawing.

[0027] The base 4 of the device 2 is embodied in the manner of a cabledrum and thus forms the winding device 6 for the winding of a datatransmission line 10, for example in the form of a cable, by means ofwhich the device 2 can be electrically connected with a central unit 12.In this embodiment, the line 10 is fixedly connected to the base 4 ofthe device 2, whereas it can be plug connected with the central unit 12via a plug that is not illustrated in the drawing. By means of theconnecting means 8, the device 2 can be electrically connected with dataprocessing units 14, whereby the connecting means 8 are integrated intothe base 4 of the device 2. In this embodiment, the connecting means 8are provided with plug connections for the connection of the dataprocessing units 14, so that non-illustrated plugs of the dataprocessing units 14 can be plugged directly into the base 4 forestablishing a data transmission connection with the central unit 12.

[0028] When using the inventive device 2 for the emergency wiring ofdata processing networks, first a plug of a connector line of thenetwork to the central unit 12, which plug is not illustrated in thedrawing, is unplugged from the central unit and the also not illustratedplug of the line 10 is plugged into the central unit 12 at thislocation. The user then brings the unit 2 from the central unit 12 tothe data processing units 14 that are to be connected to the centralunit 12 and in so doing unwinds the line 12 from the winding device 6 ofthe device 2.

[0029] The user subsequently electrically connects the individual dataprocessing units 14 to the device 2 by plugging their plugs into theconnecting means 8 of the device 2. After the non-illustrated powersupply unit of the distribution means that are not illustrated in thedrawing is connected with a similarly not illustrated power source, theemergency wiring of the data processing network is established, so thatoperation of the data processing network can again be undertaken. Duringoperation of the device 2, the distribution means, which are formed by aswitch, switch data transmission connections, in a manner known to onethat is skilled in the art, between the central unit 12 and the dataprocessing units 14, or between the data processing units 14 themselves.

[0030] During the time that the data processing network is temporarilyensured by the device 2 for emergency wiring, technicians can search forand eliminate the cause of the network failure in peace and taking allnecessary care. If this occurs, the device 2 can again be taken out ofoperation. This occurs in the reverse sequence to that of its being setinto operation. Subsequently, the device 2 can again be stowed in aspace-saving manner.

[0031] The inventive device 2 thus ensures that the operating conditionof a network can be rapidly and economically established in astraightforward manner, especially after an interruption caused by afailure in the wiring.

[0032] Should the number of plug connections at the connecting means 8provided by the inventive device 2 not be adequate in a givenapplication in order to connect all of the data processing units 14 tothe device 2, and hence to the central unit 12, it is possible toconnect several inventive devices 2 in series in order in this way to beable to connect further data processing units 14 to the central unit 12.For this purpose, a connecting line of a further inventive device 2,which is not illustrated in the drawing, its connected to the device 2via a plug connection of the connecting means 8 so that both devices areconnected in series. There is then available for the connection of dataprocessing units 14, in addition to the remaining plug connections ofthe connecting means 8 of the inventive device 2, the plug connectionsof the connecting means of the further inventive device 2. If necessary,a plurality of inventive devices 2 can be connected in series. It isalso possible to connect a plurality of inventive devices 2 to one andthe same inventive device 2 that is connected with the central unit 12.

[0033] The inventive device 2 is particularly suitable for the emergencywiring of data processing networks. It Is furthermore suitable for thetemporary wiring of data processing networks or other communicationnetworks, for example at concerts or other events or for technicalauxiliary organizations.

1. Device (2) for the temporary wiring, especially emergency wiring, ofcommunication networks, especially data processing networks, with a base(4), which is provided with a winding device (6) for a line (10) for theconnection of the device (2) with a central unit (12), with connectingmeans (8) disposed on the base (4) for the connection of a plurality ofdata processing units (14) to the device (2), and with distributionmeans, disposed on the base (4) and connected with the connecting means(8), for the establishment of communication connections between thecentral unit (12) and the data processing units (14).
 2. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the distribution means areprovided with switch means.
 3. Device according to claim 1,characterized in that the distribution means are provided with an activenetwork component.
 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe active network component is a switch, a hub, a router or the like.5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributionmeans are provided with amplification means for the amplification ofsignals exchanged between the central unit (12) and the data processingunits (14).
 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that theline (10) for the connection of the device (2) with the central unit(12) is fixedly connected with the base (4) of the device (2).
 7. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (8) areprovided with plug connections for the connection of the data processingunits (14).
 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that thebase (4) is embodied in the manner of a cable drum and thus forms thewinding device (6).
 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized inthat the distribution means are integrated into the base (4) of thedevice (2).
 10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that theconnecting means (8) are integrated into the base (4) of the device (2).11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a voltage supplyunit for the distribution means is disposed on the base (4).
 12. Deviceaccording to claim 11, characterized in that the voltage supply unit isintegrated into the base (4).